More 4G LTE sites crucial to 5G take-off with NSA model – Huawei

Leading telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Huawei Technologies Limited has recommended the non-standalone (NSA) model which builds on 4G LTE infrastructure to kick-start deployment of the fifth-generation network (5G) in Nigeria.

Incidentally, Nigeria’s policy document on the fifth generation network also emphasized the model which demand that at the early stage of the technology in Nigeria, the core of the fourth generation network is crucial for operators to build 5G on.

Addressing the audience at a national dialogue of 5G recently organized by Business Metrics, jointly sponsored by Huawei and other players in the country’s telecoms sector, Ashwani Mishra, Director of ICT Strategy and Marketing at Huawei, said the NSA model demands that Nigeria continue to rollout 4G for more coverage.

In technical parlance, he explained that the two deployment options for 5G network are the Non-Standalone (NSA) and Stand-Alone (SA) models.

NSA option relies partly on existing 4G LTE infrastructure and brings some new technology like 5G New Radio (NR). The model has the 5G Radio Access Network and the 5G NR interface working together with existing LTE infrastructure and core network, he said.

This means that while only LTE services are supported, the network has the capabilities offered by 5G NR, like enhanced mobile broadband.

On the other hand, the stand-alone refers to a 5G network that does not rely on LTE networks and has its own core cloud-native network that connects to the new radio.

It is expected that network operators will implement SA after moving through an NSA. Using an NSA approach allows Operators to offer 5G-like experiences while they build out the needed physical infrastructure of a 5G network.

Speaking further, the expert from Huawei, Mishra stressed that good 4G is the strong foundation for 5G network and services.

According to him, “We need to continue to rollout 4G/LTE sites for coverage and capacity enhancement.

“Year 2022 will be the first year of Commercial launch of 5G services which will mainly focus on providing Hot-spots in Dense Urban area. This will not be a seamless coverage of 5G.

“MNO should deploy 4T4R in the lower band (700/800/900/1.8/2.1/2.6) to enhance 4G capacity and prepare for 5G. So basically Non-standalone 5G network will be good initially.”

For the years 2023 to 2024, Mishra recommended that 5G can be deployed in all high value areas in the dense urban, while noting however that it will still be difficult to have seamless coverage, thus recommending that LTE capacity be enhanced which is called 5G like experience.

“5G to B incubation user cases like Smart Port, Smart Oilfield, Smart Agriculture, Smart Medical and Smart transportation needs to be explored and deployed. This should be supported with low cost 5G terminals eco-system less than 200 USD,” Mishra said as he went fully technical.

Mishra

He said that 2025 onwards, 5G can be provided as seamless coverage in the dense urban area but he hinted that industry players need to enrich 5G services and eco-system like Cloud VR, Cloud Game, and Cloud Phone need to be encouraged.

He stated that in terms of 5G terminal, Nigeria can be greater than 10 per cent by 2025, while forecasting also that by that time, price will been lower than $150 per terminal from the current $200.

Speaking of the standalone (SA) deployment option, Mishra said there are no successful cases of SA 5G on C band globally and it will be a challenge to have correct Return on Investment (RoI) with the SA model as it demands more investment to get the network up and running.

“So it is expected that mobile network operators (MNOs) need to acquire other mid bands spectrum for their 3G and 4G services to maintain the right eco-system in Nigeria,” he concluded.